On December 18, the Bologna Institute for Policy Research hosted Sylvie Goulard for a conference on the future of Europe in the face of war on the continent. This seminar addressed the reality that war has returned to the European continent and examined how Europeans should collectively respond to this situation. The speaker first emphasized that the way we use words matters, starting with the concept of "Europe" itself, whether understood as a geographical space or as a political and institutional project. A recurring issue is the gap between expectations placed on the European Union and the limited means granted to it, making it misleading to blame the EU for shortcomings rooted in member states' choices.

A key distinction was drawn between NATO and the EU, which are often confused. NATO is primarily a defense alliance, while the EU is a political integration project based on some supranational institutions. Although both have contributed to peace, their roles, logics, and structures differ fundamentally. The speaker also stressed that "war" today is not limited to conventional battlefield conflict but includes hybrid dimensions such as disinformation and cyber operations. What is more, perceptions of war vary across Europe, with Eastern countries feeling already at war, while Western societies remain more distant from this reality.

The speaker identified four major weaknesses of the EU. First, European integration remains unfinished, particularly in foreign policy and defense, which largely remain national competences. Second, despite having economic and trade tools, Europe lacks the full set of political and strategic instruments required in a world of sovereign states. Third, there is insufficient investment in the future, undermining Europe's long-term capacity to act. Finally, "Trojan horses" exist within the EU: political forces that do not seek to leave the Union but rather to benefit financially from it without contributing to a shared political project.

Despite these weaknesses, the speaker argued that the EU has fundamentally transformed Europe by placing the rule of law above the use of force. This moral and political dimension—rooted in trust, forgiveness, and cooperation—is at the heart of the European project. The speaker argued that Europe must continue to support Ukraine as much as possible, framing this support as a matter of both security and values. The speaker called for stronger cooperation, renewed leadership (particularly from Germany), and continued engagement with partners such as the UK, Canada, and Norway. Ultimately, the conference warned against rising nationalism and urged Europeans to think beyond existing institutional limits, especially in times of crisis, when what once seemed unthinkable can become possible.

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hosted by Professor Nathalie Tocci


Sylvie Goulard is Professor of Practice in Global affairs (sustainability, green finance and geopolitics) at SDA Bocconi School of Management since October 2023.

She served as a Member of the European Parliament from 2009 to 2017, as Ministery of the Armed Forces of the French Government and as Vice Governor of the Banque de France from 2018 to 2022. At the European Parliament, she was a member of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (where she was rapporteur for several texts revising the Stability and Growth Pact or creating new supervisory authorities, solvency and resolution rules for the financial sector after the Great Financial crisis). She was also chair of the inter-parliamentary group for the fight against poverty.

At the Banque de France, she followed in particular international and European affairs (ECB governing councils, G7/G20 (finance track), IMF, FSB, OECD work). Chair of the risk committee, she was also supervising the Bank's research Departement and very much involved in sustainable finance (chair of the Bank's strategic committee on sustainable finance, co-chair of the global NGFS Task force on nature-related issues).

Having graduated from Sciences Po and the Ecole Nationale d'Administration (ENA), she studied law. During her time at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Goulard particularly dealt with issues related to European integration and Germany. She is Chair of the Deutsch-Französisches Institute in Germany. From 2001 to 2004, she was the political advisor to Romano Prodi, who was the President of the European Commission at the time.

Her book L'Europe pour les Nuls (First, 2007) won the European Book Prize. She has written other books, including La Democrazia in Europa (Flammarion, Rizzoli 2012), co-authored with Mario Monti, and L'Europe enfla si bien qu'elle creva (Tallandier, 2024) on the future EU enlargement.